Teemu Hartikainen is "in the window" where he needs to step up from "quality AHL player" to "NHL regular. It's a massive step, and one I'm sure Edmonton would love to see the big Finn make this fall. The question I have is this: will Harski provide enough offense?

At the minor league level, Teemu Hartikainen is more than a face in the crowd. The young man has managed some impressive things in Oklahoma since the fall of 2010, and that is reflected in his AHL points per 82 games boxcars:

82, 23-33-55, 173 shots on goal

That's a nice boxcar for the big Finnish player. If we estimate he's playing 15 minutes a game (total), that would be 2.68 points per 60 minutes of AHL play (combined EV/PP). I think it's a reasonable guess that Hartikainen's offense in the AHL suggests he should at least be capable of filling a 4line role and (to quote new GM Craig MacTavish) " In today’s NHL, even marginally, you have to be a threat to score."

THE NHL PERFORMANCE

However, the NHL numbers give a person pause about how much Hartikainen can help. If we use simple TOI and EV scoring over his three seasons in the NHL, we get this number for Harski:

NHL EV/60 2010-13: 0.81

The numbers by year:

10-11: 1.04

11-12: 1.36

12-13: 0.00

A quick note: the NHL/EV number above uses the NHL.COM data for TOI and EV points, the season by season breakout is behind the net. They are not directly comparable, but do give an indication of what he's been doing at even strength/5x5 in the NHL.

IS THAT ENOUGH?

No. However, each of these season's is a small sample size. Teemu Hartikainen played 196 EV minutes this season and had zero EV points--that's not a good thing for a young player trying to impress a new General Manager. However, history tells us that minor league succes can predict major league ability, and Hartikainen's AHL numbers tell us that there may be a player here.

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

Teemu Hartikainen has played about 595 minutes of even strength NHL hockey over three seasons and is 4-4-8 during that time. That's below par, and the fact that he managed zero even strength points this past season may mean his opportunity has passed with the Edmonton Oilers.

A losing team is the most likely team to flush underperformers (Steve Tambellini aside) and despite my own personal feelings that Hartikainen should get a full season to show what he can do, it may not be in the cards for Harski.

Bad timing.

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That's because the boys were dogging it.. Hallsy was dogging. He got benched as he should have. Learn your lesson young man. That's what these young guys need. That's how you advance ladies and gentlemen.

He was turning the puck over to much, toeing dragging it when he should have been dumping it in. Hall very rarely dogs it. Ruff has the opportunity to sit guys because the roster is deep. It's stupid to sit Hall for more than a shift or two with the oilers roster.

I forgot to mention that at least we did not trade a top six forward and.current first liner for junk. Harti was at least what a fifth rounder, whos beating.expectations. But everyone in Vanouver is patient that ZK will be the.second.coming of Bertuzzi. Only problem is Big Bert had hockey IQ when he was smashing guys.

My take on Hartikainen is that he seems like a player who always has to have either a carrot in front of him or a stick behind. He needs to be motivated by external forces, rather than finding that motivation internally. Maybe have him sit next to Hall in the dressing room. Didn't Messier use to have to work at building up Nilsson before a game?

If Hartikainen were packaged with a roster player to address a need such as a top-pairing defender or a young solid 2nd line center, I wouldn't be too upset. While he's not at the top of my list of prospects who need to be moved I think the Oilers should try to be the first to realize if he is an NHL player or not. If not, move him before all the other teams catch on.

Hartikainen needs to play on a line with a puck transporter able to get the puck up the ice from the Dzone to the Ozone. Hartikainen's (and Lander's) have offensive ability, but they are mediocre puck transporters because they are average skaters at best.

Hartikainen also has to play on a line with players who can support his cycle. The Oilers really only have Paajarvi at this point who is used to doing this, having been trained by Todd Nelson in OKC on how to support Hartikainen's cycle. Lander is being similarly trained right now. (Rajala is the puck transporter.) A cycler, which is what Hartikainen does best, needs a tag team partner.

Don't totally agree as there is something there but only as a 4th liner right know . Potential for 3rd is somewhere in there . Hate to loose him like glenX and bite us in the ass . McT has some big decisions but his 4th line could be in OKL right know . Its 2 top 9 we need . 1 of 3 centers may change as well as 1 of 2 wingers . That's where the real changes need to happen . Tough yea, but it could happen . Horc or Gags may go and Hemsky or Magnus . Your choice or I should say McT's choice

With the over abundance of big forwards this organization has, especially since people don't want Petrell, Jones, Smyth, Eager, Belanger or even Hemsky back! Who is going to be n this team? My bet is that harty at least ges a long hard lock throughout training camp.

I still think he can find a roll as well. This year was a do-over. New coach, lockout, shortened season, and maturing kids with horrible bottom 6 roster spots does not make for a great work environment.

A job on the 4th line, or even the third seems his for the taking next year. My by is on the Finn, not the mullet(s), the frenchie, the Czech, or anyone else.

Add a free net or two, and voila! Line 4.

I believe we will spend money and tameable assets looking for d-upgrades, as they are a tougher commodity to find. Role players can be fond almost anywhere,

With the over abundance of big forwards this organization has, especially since people don't want Petrell, Jones, Smyth, Eager, Belanger or even Hemsky back! Who is going to be n this team? My bet is that harty at least ges a long hard lock throughout training camp.

I still think he can find a roll as well. This year was a do-over. New coach, lockout, shortened season, and maturing kids with horrible bottom 6 roster spots does not make for a great work environment.

A job on the 4th line, or even the third seems his for the taking next year. My by is on the Finn, not the mullet(s), the frenchie, the Czech, or anyone else.

Add a free net or two, and voila! Line 4.

I believe we will spend money and tameable assets looking for d-upgrades, as they are a tougher commodity to find. Role players can be fond almost anywhere,

I think the most likely members of the bottom 6F to return are Horcoff, Smyth and Paajarvi (if were counting Paajarvi as bottom 6 which seems reasonable).

So Hartikainen lines up as a 4line possibility, but Mike Brown is also in the mix and the new GM is going to make some moves.

Too soon to tell, but a stronger run in the NHL would have made his position stronger. Hartikainen is having a nice AHL playoffs btw.

IMO the Oilers have always soured on prospects if they don't become monster physical players or great scorers nearly immediately.

This is why we see them become productive on other teams. It's happened for years. Why we see teams turn out productive after productive player and the Oilers only do well with first rounders, and historically not even that.

There is a fundamental problem with how they view players when drafting and developing. With how they work with them. There is also a management bloodline that runs back to the glory days unbroken.

Looking at Gernat, who is 6'5", knocking it out of the park at both ends of the ice, draft and post draft, post surgery year, the Oilers and their bloggers seem tepid. How can he not be the most exciting non NHL player they control? He could be an incredible NHL player in a critical position.

I was looking through potential role players for the Oilers and noticed Dallas drafts a lot of strong effective bottom 6-9 players. Hire that guy!

IMO the Oilers have always soured on prospects if they don't become monster physical players or great scorers nearly immediately.

This is why we see them become productive on other teams. It's happened for years. Why we see teams turn out productive after productive player and the Oilers only do well with first rounders, and historically not even that.

There is a fundamental problem with how they view players when drafting and developing. With how they work with them. There is also a management bloodline that runs back to the glory days unbroken.

Looking at Gernat, who is 6'5", knocking it out of the park at both ends of the ice, draft and post draft, post surgery year, the Oilers and their bloggers seem tepid. How can he not be the most exciting non NHL player they control? He could be an incredible NHL player in a critical position.

I was looking through potential role players for the Oilers and noticed Dallas drafts a lot of strong effective bottom 6-9 players. Hire that guy!

Good grief.

3 years after being drafted, Franzen scored 27 goals and 38 points for the Wings.

My take on Hartikainen is that he seems like a player who always has to have either a carrot in front of him or a stick behind. He needs to be motivated by external forces, rather than finding that motivation internally. Maybe have him sit next to Hall in the dressing room. Didn't Messier use to have to work at building up Nilsson before a game?

If Hartikainen were packaged with a roster player to address a need such as a top-pairing defender or a young solid 2nd line center, I wouldn't be too upset. While he's not at the top of my list of prospects who need to be moved I think the Oilers should try to be the first to realize if he is an NHL player or not. If not, move him before all the other teams catch on.

Interesting post. Montreal back in the olden days would bring a guy in, play him on a scoring line for half a year and then deal him to Pittsburgh for something useful. Chuck Arnason, guys like that.

Oilers won't do that, but I think what you posted makes a lot of sense.

23 should be at the prime of this dudes career?
3points...... 3 points!!!!! That's it? This guy ain't a threat to score. Then again Uncle Ralph isn't the coach to bring a mean streak out of him either.

Does anyone else agree... It isn't too early to fire Uncle Ralph and go after Lindy Ruff.

This Team needs discipline!!!!!! FIRE Ralph I say!

Back to Harti. I agree with another guy who posted maybe we should package him with say Gags.. Deal him out before other teams catch on that he sucks!!

He'd probably do/look good if he were paired with Getzlaf and Perry . Oilers trade him and swap first round picks for B.Ryan . Some of you might suggest trying Hartekainen and our first round pick . Would that do for a trade ? I would not , as he might turn out to be another Penner without Getzlaf and Perry . I'm not sold on Ryan or his contract .

23 should be at the prime of this dudes career?
3points...... 3 points!!!!! That's it? This guy ain't a threat to score. Then again Uncle Ralph isn't the coach to bring a mean streak out of him either.

Does anyone else agree... It isn't too early to fire Uncle Ralph and go after Lindy Ruff.

This Team needs discipline!!!!!! FIRE Ralph I say!

Back to Harti. I agree with another guy who posted maybe we should package him with say Gags.. Deal him out before other teams catch on that he sucks!!

The Lindy Ruff scenario went out the door with his usage of Hall & Ebs in the worlds.

23 should be at the prime of this dudes career?
3points...... 3 points!!!!! That's it? This guy ain't a threat to score. Then again Uncle Ralph isn't the coach to bring a mean streak out of him either.

Does anyone else agree... It isn't too early to fire Uncle Ralph and go after Lindy Ruff.

This Team needs discipline!!!!!! FIRE Ralph I say!

Back to Harti. I agree with another guy who posted maybe we should package him with say Gags.. Deal him out before other teams catch on that he sucks!!

I agree.. What's the point of being a big guy that can't be a threat to score.. Maybe you're right... Kreuger is a softy European type coach, not a hard nose, tough as nails coach who wants to absolutely destroy opposing teams.

That's because the boys were dogging it.. Hallsy was dogging. He got benched as he should have. Learn your lesson young man. That's what these young guys need. That's how you advance ladies and gentlemen.

That's because the boys were dogging it.. Hallsy was dogging. He got benched as he should have. Learn your lesson young man. That's what these young guys need. That's how you advance ladies and gentlemen.

Hartikainen, not a great NHL skater. Not sure if this is something that can be worked on during the summer,, so far it hasnt happened.

He`s strong along the boards and corners, but his hands are made of ham... not a great passer and no hands around the net. If he is going to be the Franzen of the oilers... you need hands around the net.

Needs to take his mean pills before the game. Way to soft for a guy his size.

Really Petrel is a better skater, and better defensively and has a decent shot., and I am not sure I would keep Petrell.At least he hits players.. not Harti.